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THROUGHDIFFICULMoreover, the book includes exercises the loved one can do totailor information to them. For example, there is an exercise:“Break Down You Partner’s Bipolar Disorder into SpecificSymptom Categories.” This exercise includes:TIESTOTHESTARSMake a mentally healthyresolution for 2013Many of us are probably starting to think about ourresolutions for 2013. You might be thinking that you need tospend more time with your family, start exercising regularly, Interviewing your partneror learn a new skill. Maybe you always wanted to join a localsporting club, volunteer at a community garden, or a join a Listing the mood categories in your journalcommunity service club. Well 2013 is a great time to take onIn other words, this is an exercise designed to help you get a the challenge!handle on the moods your partner really has and not just theWhatever your resolution may be, why not make it official bymoods listed in a textbook.'pledging' it on the Act-Belong-Commit website.The Good About the BookEven better, you can tell your friends and family and ask forThis book actively involves the partner of a person with their support in achieving your mentally healthy goal for thebipolar disorder in the treatment process and helps them to New Year.understand all aspects of the disease, treatment and recovery.This book talks about hard truths and gives examples of Here's to a mentally healthy 2013!!!!people who have been through it. This book provides astructure for a useful dialogue between the person withbipolar disorder and their partner. This book makes nojudgement about bipolar disorder or treatment plans but justlays out the information in a plain way. This book gives factsthat are grounded in psychology and psychiatry. Finding the consistent problemsThe Bad About the BookClearly, I like the book but that doesn’t mean I think it’sperfect. The one part I really don’t like is the appendix onmedications. I don’t think it’s overly accurate and that’sbecause in order to be fully accurate about the drugs theymention would take up a whole book. I don’t believe thatpeople should get “overview” information about a drugbecause it glosses over all the possible impacts of the drug. Ithink including this appendix is akin to giving someone anoverview of a handgun and not an in-depth course – youcould save your life, or you could shoot yourself in the foot.In short, I don’t think the medication appendix should bethere.Final Opinion About the BookObviously, I feel the good far outweighs the bad in this book.While I, personally, would like to have seen more referencesto scientific literature and I don’t think the medicationappendix is appropriate, I do think the rest of the book standson solid ground and would be a huge help to partners ofpeople with bipolar disorder. I think that whether yourpartner has just been diagnosed or whether you have beenbattling this illness for years, there is knowledge to be gainedfrom this book. I definitely give the book a buyrecommendation.4Even Keel Bipolar Disorder Support Association Inc.

THROUGHDIFFICULStaying HappySource: Melbourne BiPolar Network News September 2012TIESTOTHESTARSpersonally by doing the things that you have alwayswanted like going to the gym or taking off on amountaineering trek.It is a fact that if you want something too badly, it is likely toevade you. And this is truer for happiness than anything else.The reason why happiness seems to evade the millions ofpeople searching for it is because they are looking in thewrong place.Most people look for happiness "outside" themselves and not"inside". Some feel that they would be happy if they couldafford a house of their own. Others feel that they just have toown all the latest gizmos to finally find happiness. There aresome who may not seek happiness in material things but theyare still not looking in the right place. They feel that theywould be happy if they found the right life partner or if theirchildren loved them more. Even in such cases, these peopleare searching for happiness "outside" themselves.Have you ever wondered how most infants are extremelyhappy almost all the time? Physical discomfort can makethem cry for a while but such aspects are transient and last foronly a few minutes. The reason why infants are almost alwaysin a state of natural happiness is because they are in constantawe of nature and the world around them. Unfortunately, it isthe society, parents, friends, teachers and relatives thatinfluence them with regards to what happiness should mean.It may be difficult to undo all the layers of perception thathave formed on the mind over time.However, it is never too late to try and address the issue andtrain your mind to be happy. There are some tips that canhelp you in shedding your inhibitions and breaking awayfrom the shackles of predefined definitions of happiness. Accept yourself – One of the key reasons why people areunhappy is that they do not really like or love themselvesenough. It is essential that you accept yourself as what youare without any caveats and conditions to attain happiness.Don't get too critical about yourself – your looks, yourbrains, your capabilities or your financial condition. Justlearn how to love yourself as you are. You will realize thatonce you are comfortable with what you are, others willaccept you more willingly.It is important that you learn how to balance the variousresponsibilities that you may have. If any one of these tasksbecomes paramount, you are likely to ignore the others. Forexample, if you get extremely preoccupied with your work,you family life are likely to miss you. On the other hand, ifyou are too consumed with your plans for your varioushobbies, your job and family are likely to suffer. You mayachieve momentary happiness but neither of these situationscan result in happiness in the long run. Happiness is a state of mind – It is important that you Take care of your health – an unhealthy body cannot be theunderstand and appreciate that your happiness lies within.home of a happy mind. It is important that you understandConsider this – no one can make you unhappy if you havethe strong link between physical health and mentaldecided for sure that you will be happy in every situation.happiness. If you are fit and healthy, you are likely to exudeIf you have made up your mind to be happy, you canpositive energy.always seek out the positive aspects of a situation andremain happy. Life may throw challenges at you but Stay in the company of happy people – Ensure that youseek out people who are happy and cheerful all the time.solutions will come faster and to you if you face them withBeing in the company of people who have a habit ofa smile on your face.cribbing and criticizing is likely to divert your mind Prioritize your life – As we grow older, the demands thattowards negative thoughts. Avoid getting into the sulkvarious people and circumstances they lay on us increase.mode by choosing the company of happy people.While on the one hand your job pressures increase, youmay also feel the need to spend time with your family and Be grateful – Saying a small "thank you" for what you havecan make a lot of difference. When you make it a habit to bechildren. At the same time, you may also want to enjoy lifeEven Keel Bipolar Disorder Support Association Inc.5

THROUGHDIFFICULgrateful, you seek out the things that you do have. Thishelps you divert your mind from negative thoughts of whatyou do not have. This does not mean that you give uptrying. On the other hand it encourages you to think offuture goals and achievements in a positive manner. Taketime off to enjoy nature, life and the small things that wetake for granted on a daily basis. A beautiful sunset canbring you joy, if only you would take a few minutes out ofyour daily schedule and look at it.The Act-Belong-Commitguidelines to a mentally healthyChristmasTIESTOTHESTARS Plan a Secret Santa with the family instead of buyingmultiple presents to ease financial strainFor more ideas visit the website actbelongcommit.org.auThe Mummy Christmas BugSource: Lee DhepnorraratThis Christmas do you have that bee in your bonnet? Or doyou just feel that if one more person asks you if you have putyour tree up yet you may just tell them your thoughts.Well join the club, Christmas may not be fun for all. I feel likeI am just over it already and it is only the 1st of December!Forget those glamour magsChristmas time is just around the corner! And while it's awonderful time of year full of fun, food, socialising, and gift Girls put down your New Ideas, Women’s Weeklies and all ofgiving, it can also be a stressful and emotional time of the those mags that tell you your cinnamon cakes are not up topar.year for many.It's important to remember to take the extra step to look after Whenever I read them I end up thinking of womenyour mental health and it's as simple as following the Act- conquering the world with kids who sit still and never makea mess as they help them cook,. And then I think my saggyBelong-Commit guidelines for good mental health.cupcakes in the oven are going straight to the bin :-(ActIf you must read them, skim the pics, take one or two piecesMake the effort to be active during your Christmas of advice from them and remember something you do wellcelebrations, spend time at the beach, local park, or pool that they cannot like boogy on the dancefloor. Or better yetinstead of sitting around at home. You can give gifts that get remember those in your life like your family and friends thatpeople active such as sporting equipment, a puzzle, or a you love and think hey, I got all I need.board game.When your time is done on this earth does it really matter ifBelongyou baked the cake to end all cakes and had your houseJoin in local community celebrations, such as Carols by spotless?candlelight or invite your neighbours around for a BBQ. It's Make this life countimportant to remember that belonging is more important than'belongings' so focus on spending time with loved ones, Forget your iPads, computers, devices and diaries. If you lostall of it in a house fire or your husband or wife would itinstead of spending money on gifts.matter if you ticked all your boxes?CommitMake this day special, not yesterday, two years from now, notYou can commit to helping those less fortunate by donating to even two days from now. You’ll get through each day, and ilocal gift appeal, organise a collection at your workplace or hope see that it is a blessing.volunteer your time at a soup kitchen.I remember a girl Rhianna who had the rockiest year. She hadPeople seem to intuitively know what to do to remain a home life from hell and I am sure having it splattered in thementally healthy, but we need to make people more conscious papers for all to see and judge wasn’t pretty. But did she givethat they need to deliberately do things to keep those good up? No! She sang song after song, and brought awareness tolevels of mental health up, especially over the Christmas the issues at hand and found women the world over who alsoperiod.suffered as she did.Other things you can do to keep Christmas stress at bay One of my favourite songs at the moment is Shine Bright likeinclude:a Diamond. From a year of hardship came a beautiful song forus to enjoy. So shine this Christmas and years to come, life is Plan ahead and do your Christmas shopping earlyworth living and make your days on this earth special, we all Take time out for yourselfhave our stories to tell, make yours one that leaves a footprintof kindness and love and just a bit of caring. Try and get enough sleepLove all, treat yourself with the gentle kindness you deserve, Refrain from overindulging with foodmake your days happy, joyful, cheerful and never give up nomatter how dark your days.Keepalcoholconsumptiontoaminimum 6Even Keel Bipolar Disorder Support Association Inc.

THROUGHDIFFICULTIESTOTHESTARSRemember love is contagious, when I share love it comes back the illness, it is often better to seek more structured work withto me multiplied.a regular schedule. Long or irregular work hours can wreakhavoc with your stability and job performance.Tips for Managing BipolarDisorder at WorkSource: Melbourne Bipolar Network Newsletter November 2012If you have bipolar disorder, no one needs to tell you howchallenging this mental illness can be. You are among millionsof adults who may also find that the extreme mood swings ofbipolar disorder can be very disruptive at work. Take heart.There are many steps you can take to find meaningful workand develop successful relationships on -- and off -- the job.Sometimes, though, full-time work feels too challenging. Ifthat's the case for you, it may help to ask your supervisorabout flexible hours, a self-paced workload, the ability towork from home, or part-time work schedules. Also, seewhether you can make up lost time when necessary. Whetherwith work or other aspects of your day -- such as sleep, meals,and exercise -- regular schedules may be the best policy.Structure provides predictability. It also reduces stimulationand promotes organization and stability.How Bipolar Disorder Can Affect Job PerformanceIt's not surprising that work can bring special challenges forthose with bipolar disorder. The stress and unpredictablechallenges in the workplace can take a big toll. Managingbipolar at work -- with the highs of mania and the lows ofdepression -- is no small feat. In a survey conducted by theDepression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), almost 9out of every 10 people with bipolar disorder said the illnesshad affected their job performance. More than half surveyedsaid they thought they had to change jobs or careers moreoften than others.And many felt they were either given less responsibility orpassed up for promotions. Left untreated, the disease cangreatly affect relationships and job performance. However, acombination of medicine and therapy can be effective.Working closely with your health care providers and supportnetwork, you can learn how to manage symptoms and find abalance that works for you on the job.Should You Be Open at Work About Your Bipolar Disorder?To tell or not to tell, that can be the big question with bipolardisorder. It's your choice. There's still a stigma surroundingmental illness, so you may want to be less open about it. Youreally don't need to tell anyone at work about your bipolardisorder. But in certain circumstances, it can be helpful tohave a conversation with your supervisor, such as when youneed to take off from work for lots of appointments. Beingopen may be better than having your boss guess about or besurprised by your absences.Other Tips for Managing Bipolar Disorder at WorkIf you have bipolar disorder, there are things you can do tomake it easier to succeed at work. For starters, know yoursymptoms of depression and mania. That way, you can bettermanage them. See challenges as learning experiences andlook for opportunities to learn. Give yourself lots of credit forbig and small accomplishments, especially when youpersevere through the hard times.Here are a few other tips that may help you with managingbipolar disorder at work:Remember to try the following tips at home as well. It'simportant to get plenty of down time.Manage stress Take regular breaks -- before you think you really needthem. This is particularly important if your stress levels rise.Before you discuss absences or other potentialaccommodations you may need, it may help to educate your Try a relaxation exercise, such as deep breathing.supervisor about bipolar disorder. A letter from your doctoror a brochure on the topic may help. Also, be sure to Take a walk around the block.emphasize how any changes you request will help you be a Listen to relaxing music.more productive employee.Bipolar Disorder and Your Work Schedule Call a friend.Many people with bipolar disorder find themselves seeking Take time off for counseling.project-oriented careers, where the work is intense for short Make other healthy lifestyle changes.periods. Even though this seems to fit the ups and downs ofEven Keel Bipolar Disorder Support Association Inc.7

THROUGHDIFFICULTIESTOTHESTARSBesides managing your stress well, it's important to exercise Use a watch with an hourly alarm to remind you aboutdaily, get enough sleep, and eat nutritious meals. If stress isspecific tasks.affecting your sleep, it's definitely time to take steps to get itunder control. Think about stress management techniques Develop team skills. It helps to accept that both you andothers have limitations and that conflict is a natural part ofthat have worked well for you in the past.working with others. It's how you manage these conflicts thatTake your medications as prescribed. It may be tempting to can make the difference. Deal with problems as they happen,go without treating your mania. After all, this is when many rather than letting them build up. But focus on the problem,people feel most productive. But that can be risky thinking. rather than pointing fingers at the person. At the same time,During mania, you're more likely to make mistakes and can stay open to others' ideas and try not to take constructivebecome irritable, making working relationships challenging. criticism personally.If you tend to forget your medications, it may help to set atimer or reminder on your computer. Keeping your Make connections with people and purpose. It may help youmedication in a plastic container or vitamin bottle can help to remember that you are not defined by your illness andyour work is not your whole life. Spending time with familyyou guard your privacy.and friends, planning fun get-togethers, volunteering with aKeep side effects at bay. Does your medication make you charity -- all of these may help you find purpose. Also, have asleepy or jittery at work? It's not uncommon for people with support system lined up -- for good times and bad. The Evenbipolar disorder to need extra sleep -- 8 to 10 or even up to 12 Keel office can help you find a local support group.-- hours a day. Your doctor may be able to change your dosingtime or amount to help reduce drowsiness or other sideMaking job changes with bipolar disordereffects at work. Ask about other ways to cope with sideeffects. For example, taking medication with food can lessen Are you looking for your first job or needing to find a newnausea.one? If so, it will help to assess your skills, qualities, and lifeexperiences. Make a list of what you bring to the table. Or,Don't ignore symptoms. Even when you're doing everythingperhaps you need to make changes at your present job or areright, you may still have an episode of depression or mania.returning to work after being away.Act quickly if you feel an episode of depression or maniacoming on. Take extra steps to control your stress. Your health Think about what you really need at work:care provider can also help guide you to even out yourmoods. After an episode of depression or mania, be sure to Can you work better alone than with a large group?take the time you need to recover. If you've taken time off Do you need clear direction from others, rather than beingfrom work, pace yourself as you return. This is a time whenself-directed?working part-time may be the best option. Do you need more breaks?Maintain concentration What time of day are you most productive?See if it is possible to try any of these ideas: Do you need a different kind of job than you have currentlyor have had in the past? Reduce distractions in your work area.Asking questions like these may help you get clear aboutproducing the best work environment for you. As youprobably know, many people with bipolar disorder trum with impulsivity. So whatever you do, take your time to makelighting.big job changes. Talk them over with family, health careproviders, and your therapist.Stay organized Use white noise or environmental

Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder – Understanding and Helping Your Partner by Julie A. Fast and John D. Preston, PsyD. (Actually for partners of people with bipolar disorder, but I wanted to list it anyway) Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder A book review by Na